Flowers & Herbs

Beautiful Spring Flowers For Your Garden

Candy Rose 31/07/25

Spring in New Zealand is a time of renewal, colour and endless planting potential.

As the daylight hours stretch and the excitement of soil warming up approaches, gardeners across the country start asking: What flowers bloom in spring? What can I plant in spring that will bring joy to bees, beauty to the backyard, and blooms to the vase?

Whether you're new to gardening or ready to try something new this season, there are plenty of spring flowers to sow, grow and admire. Let's dig into what flowers thrive in NZ's spring gardens, how to get the most out of your planting, and how to keep your garden blooming well into the season.

Classic & Native Spring Blooms: From Poppy to Kōwhai

Some flowers have stood the test of time in Kiwi gardens, and for good reason. They're reliable, gorgeous and deeply tied to our sense of seasonal change.

Classic spring flowers in New Zealand include

Foxgloves – Towering cottage garden classics that love dappled shade and add vertical magic. Ideal for bees and beautiful in wild borders.
Sweet Peas – Perfect for trellises and fences, these fragrant climbers bloom abundantly and thrive with regular picking.
California Poppies – Delicate in look but hardy in nature, they thrive in cooler spring temperatures and glow in soft pastels. Can spread easily.
Antirrhinum – Vibrant, edible and perfect for attracting bees. If you're wondering when to plant snapdragons in NZ, early spring is ideal.
Borage – A pollinator magnet with edible blue blooms and cucumber-flavoured leaves. Great for borders and permaculture plots.
Aquilegia – A whimsical woodland favourite with two-tone petals, thriving in part-shade and popping up year after year. Sometimes called granny's bonnet due to the same resembling bonnets worn in the past.
Pansy/Viola – Reliable, compact, and cheerful. Ideal for planter boxes, hanging baskets, and garden edges in cooler spring months.
Linaria – Also known as ‘Toadflax,’ these airy spires, that look like mini snapdragons, add movement to flower beds and attract beneficial insects all season long.
Sweet William – A scented biennial with cottage charm. Rich in colour, it’s perfect for picking and loved by pollinators. Self seeds readily.
Lupin – A favourite in NZ flower gardens. These nitrogen-fixers offer stately spires in bold colours and grow well in poor soil. (Pictured in heading)
Helichrysum – Drought-tolerant and ideal for cutting or drying. These papery strawflower blooms keep their colour long after the season ends.

Don't forget the locals:

Our beautiful Kōwhai is one of the first native trees to flower, providing vital food for tūī and other pollinators. While not grown from seed as easily as some, it deserves a spot in any Kiwi garden where native biodiversity is valued.

Popular Spring Flowers to Plant in NZ Gardens

If you're wondering "What flowers to plant now in NZ?", here's a handy list of flowers in season NZ-wide that suit most garden conditions:

Calendula – Quick to flower and edible to boot. A cheerful bloom that’s easy to grow and edible too, perfect for borders, garden beds, and companion planting.
Cornflowers – Blue-hued classics or purple, pink or white beauties, ideal for cut flowers and wildflower mixes.
Sunflowers – Want height and drama? Learn how to plant sunflower seeds now for a big summer wow.
Cosmos – Light and airy blooms that self-seed easily.
Marigolds – A companion plant superstar—good for pest control and garden cheer.
Scabiosa – Also called pincushion flowers. If you're looking into scabiosa growing conditions, they love full sun and well-drained soil.
Poppies – Growing poppies from seed is easy with good drainage and sunshine. Sow directly in early spring.

These are all easy to grow flowers that work beautifully in planter boxes, flower beds, or even hanging baskets.

Calendula, California Poppies, Viola, Borage & Cornflower pictured.

Planning & Preparing Soil for Spring Flower Planting

To make your flower seeds thrive, start by prepping the soil—not just planting the seeds.

Clear out weeds and dig over the soil to a depth of 20–30cm.
Add compost or well-rotted manure to boost nutrients and improve structure.
Check pH if growing sensitive varieties like sweet peas or snapdragons (they prefer neutral to slightly alkaline).
Let the soil settle for a few days before sowing, especially if it's just been enriched.

A well-prepared bed sets the stage for vibrant blooms, and makes it easier for your plants to soak up moisture and nutrients efficiently.

Choosing & Sowing Flower Seeds or Bulbs in Spring

So, what should I plant in spring in NZ? If you're starting from scratch, flower seeds are an affordable and satisfying option, plus you'll find a wider range of varieties than with potted plants.

Tips for success:

Follow a flower planting calendar NZ-style: sow hardy annuals like poppies and calendula early, then follow with heat-lovers like cosmos and zinnias.
If sowing indoors, place trays in a warm, bright space, heat pads can help seeds germinate faster, especially early in the season.
Direct sowing is great for flowers like sunflowers and marigolds. Just thin them out once they're a few centimetres tall.
Bulbs like tulips and daffodils are usually planted in late winter, but if your soil is cold and well-drained, they can still go in at the start of spring.

If you're growing in containers, look for the best flowers to plant in planter boxes, such as nasturtiums, alyssum, violas, sweet william or petunias.

Caring for Your Spring Flower Display

Once seedlings are established, it's time to nurture them into a thriving display.

Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Water early in the morning so plants stay hydrated through the day.
Support tall growers like cosmos or delphinium with stakes.
Deadhead regularly, or cut for vases, to encourage repeat flowering.
Feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser, especially if growing in pots.

For flowers that grow in shade, like aquilegia, dianthus and forget-me-not, make sure they're protected from harsh afternoon sun and have plenty of compost to keep the soil cool and productive all summer long.

Sweet Peas in vase pictured.

Extending Bloom Time & Supporting Pollinators

Want your garden to keep blooming into early summer? Here's how:

Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for prolonged flowering, especially with cosmos, zinnias and cornflowers.
Plant bee favourites like borage, calendula and sunflowers.
Use shade-loving varieties under trees or on the cooler side of fences, this extends colour into less-used areas of the garden.
Don't pull up flowering plants too early, let them go to seed if you're into growing cut flowers or want to save seed.

Supporting pollinators also means your garden becomes part of a broader food web, encouraging balance, beauty and biodiversity. Did you know bumblebees love foxgloves.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What flowers bloom in spring in NZ?

Poppies, calendula, sweet peas, foxglove, delphinium, lupin, borage and cornflowers are common spring bloomers across the country.

What should I plant in spring in NZ?

You can sow flower seeds like zinnia, cosmos, sunflowers and marigolds or plant bulbs and perennials suited to your zone.

How can I grow flowers that thrive in shade?

Choose shade-loving varieties such as stock, violas and aquilegia. Ensure they receive morning light and rich, moist soil.

What are easy to grow flowers for beginners?

Try calendula, linaria, sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums and cosmos, quick to germinate and forgiving to grow.

How do I make plants flower faster?

Start seeds in a warm, bright place. Use compost-rich soil, water regularly and feed with liquid fertiliser such as comfrey spray once established.

Ready to Plant Your Spring Flower Garden?

Spring flowers are more than a seasonal delight, they're a sign of life, of growth, a beacon to pollinators and the joy that comes from a handful of seeds.

At Kings Seeds, we believe everyone can grow something beautiful, and we're here to help you every step of the way.

Browse our full range of flower seeds today and start planning your best spring garden yet.

Your blooms are waiting.